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(No Model.)

, A. R. S. FOOTE.

COMBINED SPATULA AND ELECTRIC MOUTH ILLUMINATOR. No. 339.754.

Patented Apr. 13, 1886.

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' ment with a clamp or holding device toen- Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS R. S. FOOTE, OF VVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

COMBINED SPATULA AND ELECTRIC MOUTH-ILLUMINATOR.

-$5PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,754, dated April 13, 1886.

Application filed Aprilll, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS R. S. FOOTE, of \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain Improvements in Spatnlas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of specula variously denominated spatula, "tongue-depressors, 850., and designed for introduction into the mouth for the purpose of confining the tongue in order to permit inspection of the mouth and throat.

The invention consists in combining with the substantially flat blade or spatula, adapted to bear upon and confine the tongue, an electric lamp seated within its inner or forward end, the lamp serving to illuminate the throat,while the blade serves, in addition to its ordinary function, as a support for the lamp, and as a shield to prevent the passage of the light-rays from the lamp directly to the eye of the op erator.

It further consists in providing the instru gage beneath the chin of the patient, whereby it may be retained in position, leaving the hands of both the patient and the physician free.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my instrument in one of its forms; Fig. 2, a vertical central. section of the same; Fig. 3, asectional view of a modification.

A represents the body of the instrument, made in substantially the form of an inverted L, its upper horizontal portion being widened and adapted to bear upon the tongue, while the lower portion is fashioned into ahandle of any suitable form.

The instrument may have the same form as those now in general use.

In applying my improvement I recess the forward end of the instrument and seat therein an electric lamp, B, of the incandescent type, and connect therewith suitable electric conductors, 0, extending to a battery or other source of electric supply. These conductors are preferably extended through the interior of the instrument, as shown; but they may be secured on the outer surface or in a groove or channel therein. The conductors may be made Serial No. 161,991. (No model.)

continuous; but it is preferred to provide the handle with a sliding button, D, having a sliding circuit closing or contact device attached, as a means of interrupting the circuit when required. These contact devices may be of any of the various forms now in common use, and constitute no part of the invention.

The body of the instrument may be constructed of gutta-pereha or like material, or of metal. In the latter case it may be made hollow, as represented in Fig. 2, to admit of water or other fluid being circulated therethrough, if desired. It is preferred to seat the lamp wholly within the end of the instrument and to burnish or polish the adjacent walls of the metal, that they may serve as reflectors to assist in diffusing the light; but this is not a necessary feature.

\Vhen desired, the body or handle may be provided with a vertically-sliding clamp or arm, E, of any appropriate form to engage beneath the chin of the patient. This arm,whicl1 slides freely upward and downward, may be held in place by its friction on the handle, or provided with a screw or equivalent fastening device, F, as shown in Fig. 1.

Instead of mounting the lamp directly in the blade or spool of the instrument, it may be mounted in an arm overlying the blade, as in Fig. ,8, in which case the blade may be made detachable, as shown. This construction permits the use of blades of different forms and sizes in connection with one handle and lamp, and also permits the instrument to be used in the absence of the blade for exploring cavities other than the mouth.

I am aware that electric lights have been variously combined with surgical and other instruments designed forintroduction into the cavities of the human body; but I believe myself to be the first to seat a lamp within the inner end of a tongue-depressing blade.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is- 1. As a new article of manufacture,aspatula or tongue-compressing blade having an incandescent electric lamp seated in a cavity in its forward end, whereby the lamp is presented in position to illuminate the throat and con cealed from the eye of the operator.

2. The spatula or tongue-compressor consisting of the body provided with the blade extending at substantially 1i??? angles thereto, the electric lamp attach to said blade,

and the clamping-arm E, adapted,as described, for engagement beneath the chin of the patient.

3. The spatula or tongue-depressor consisting of the handle provided with the electric lamp'at one end and with the detachable blade, ra-

substantially as described and shown.

In testimony whereof'I hereunto set my hand, this 25th day' of March, 1885, in the presence of two attesting witnesses. I

' AUGS. R. S. FOOTE.

Witnesses:

P. T. DODGE, J N0. F. WAGGAMAN. 

